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Domestic violence leave extended

Ben Schneiders

MORE than 150,000 federal public servants will become eligible for domestic and family violence leave as government agencies are told to offer more leave and support to victims of abuse.

The Australian Public Service Commission, which advises dozens of agencies, is announcing what paid personal leave can be used for in domestic violence cases, including time off to attend medical or counselling appointments, court hearings, police appointments, legal advice and accessing alternative childcare or schooling for their children.

A commission circular, obtained by Fairfax Media, outlines once all paid personal leave is exhausted that ''understanding should be shown and reasonable allowance made'' for extra time off.

The move is the latest example of employers offering leave to staff who experience domestic violence and comes two years since the first agreement was signed at the Surf Coast Shire Council in Torquay, Victoria. Other major employers that have since offered schemes include the NSW public service, more than 20 Victorian councils, the University of NSW and the Tasmanian government.

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A commission spokeswoman said it would be at the discretion of the heads of agencies as to whether that extra leave be paid or unpaid.

As of last year the Australian public service employed 166,495 people. But the scheme is less generous than others which offer specific paid domestic violence leave, in some cases unlimited.

The Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Nadine Flood welcomed the move and described it as a ''good first step''.